Surf photographer/journalist Ric Chan and WA Surf and Marine Industry legend Tom Blaxell share the same birth date, 5 April.
Today Ric is celebrating his 80th and Tom his 75th birthday.
We wish both the boys a happy birthday 🤩.
Ric & Tom have been friends since Ric’s arrival in WA in late 1969.
They are now retired. Ric lives with his sons Taron and Tao at Mandurah. Tom lives with his wife Naima and young family at Marmion.
Instead of detailing their achievements, I have decided to showcase some of their social photos from the past twenty years.
Social photos
2004 WASRA 40th anniversary celebrations Peter Bevan & partner with Tom & Naima Blaxell. Photo Loz Smith RIP.
2013 Surf Expo at Marg River. Sue-Lyn Moyle, Jim KIng, Tom Blaxell, Bill Gibson & Mick Marlin. Photo Loz Smith RIP.
2014 Ric Chan and Kanga Cairns celebrities at Surfing WA 50th Anniversary event at Margaret River. Photo Jim King.
2014 Surfing WA 50 Year Anniversary celebrations at Margaret River. Ric Chan, Norm Bateman, George Simpson & the late Ric Gath. Photo Loz Smith RIP.
2015 Ric Chan (centre) at the Universal Bar with Paul Cotton, Tom Blaxell, Jock Campbell & Peter Bevan. Photo Tom Blaxell.
2015 Maldives Tom Blaxell with the late Midget Farrelly NSW at Pasta Point in the Maldives. Photo Tom Blaxell.
2015 Seniors Day at Yallingup. Bruce King, Ric Chan, Stewart Bettenay, Barry Day & Jim King. Photo Bruce King.
2016 Ric Chan socialising with his mate Steve ‘Hog’ Hannett at North Beach. Photo Ric Chan.
2017 Ric Chan with Lesa & Graham Noakes at their scrap metal business in Margaret River. Photo Ric Chan.
2018 Tom Blaxell with his mate Benton Moran at Blaxell’s 50th anniversary celebration Hillarys Boat Harbour. Photo Tom Blaxell.
2019 Ric Chan & youngest son Tao with some of Ric’s exhibits in the background at the WA Surf Gallery Yallingup. Photo Jim King.
2022 Tom & Naima Blaxell doing coffee with Jim & Kath King at Dunsborough. Photo Jim King.
2023 Tom Blaxell & Mitch Thorson with Wadumba Dance Group at opening of Surfs Up exhibition at the Rotto Museum Wadjemup. Photo Tom Blaxell
2024 Tom Blaxell with Jack Robinson WA’s first ever Olympic surfing medallist at Surfing WA champions event Trigg.
2024 Ric and Chris ‘Feggsey’ Fullston crabbing Mandurah estuary in Mike Singleton’s runabout. Photo Mike Singleton.
Enjoy your birthdays, have a great day Ric & Tom 🤩.
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